Blog

As 2023 comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the last two years spent as part of Industry Initiatives at Blue Shield of California, and what brought me here in the first place. Throughout my career, I’ve worked to build collaboration to drive...

As I look back on 2023, one of the things I’m most proud of is our work to accelerate the power of primary care, and what this means for the future of health care in California. Primary care is among the most important contributors to our health,...

Each Wonks’ Corner, a member of Blue Shield’s government affairs team dives into a current policy topic. See our previous Wonks’ Corner blogs here. Prior authorization. These two words trigger a lot of negative emotions from consumers and everyone...

Each Wonks’ Corner, a member of Blue Shield’s government affairs team dives into a current policy topic. See our previous Wonks’ Corner blogs here. From accelerating demand for electronic health record systems to mandating use of modern data exchange...

The U.S. is facing a maternal health crisis. The maternal mortality rate in the U.S. is three times the rate as most other high-income countries, and maternal and infant mortality is especially inequitable for Black mothers and their babies.

Dear Health Care Transformation Community, As 2022 comes to an end, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on Industry Initiatives’ work this year to advance health care transformation. Despite feeling like 2022 flew by, we have covered quite a bit of...

By any measure, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – especially as implemented in California – met or exceeded expectations on expanding coverage to tens of millions of Americans. Paired with recent state budgetary actions by Gov. Gavin Newsom opening...

A shortage of vaccines. Confusing messages about who is at risk. Challenges accessing diagnostic testing and appropriate treatments. The public health response to monkeypox looks too much like our nation’s incomplete and inequitable response to...

The nation’s progress toward value-based care is impeded by the siloed nature of the healthcare industry. Joe Castiglione, principal program manager of Industry Initiatives at Blue Shield of California, shares how Blue Shield implemented an industry...